Reverend Dom Damian Kearney of the Order of St. Benedict, who died September 8, 2016, was born Allan Peter Kearney on November 28, 1928, in Rockville Center, Long Island, N.Y, the son of Edward and Louise Keefe Kearney. Fr. Damian had five brothers and a sister, of whom his brothers David and Andrew survive him, along with many nephews and nieces.

Father Damian entered Portsmouth Priory School in the First Form in 1940, graduating early as a Fifth Former in 1945 because of the war. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 1949 before entering the monastery in 1950. Fr. Damian was ordained to the priesthood sixty years ago on May 26, 1956.

A much beloved and dedicated educator, Fr. Damian taught in the English Department for over fifty years, serving as Chairman from 1974 to 1988. In addition, he was the House Master of the largest boys' dormitory, St. Benet's House from 1960 to 1974.

Fr. Damian's services to the monastery were significant and varied. He was Prior of the monastery and thus acting Superior whenever the Abbot was away from 1974 to 1990. He has been nearly a permanent member of the Abbot's advisory Council since 1964. He has directed the monastic education of the Novices and Junior monks, and most recently has been Director of Oblates.

Throughout all he has been our monastic Historian and Archivist. He was interested in everything and everyone and was a man of great loyalty and devotion to the School and Abbey, to his beloved Yale University and to all things beautiful, such as fine art, literature (especially Shakespeare), and his gardens. He gave himself unstintingly to all that he did. This quotation from his ordination card has informed his entire life, “One thing have I asked the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the House of the Lord all the days of my life.”

The funeral Mass for Father Damian will be on Wednesday, September 14, at 11 a.m. in the Abbey Church followed by burial in the Abbey cemetery.